Hydrogeochemical Assessment of Groundwater Contamination and Human Health Implications in Bathinda, District Punjab

Abstract

This comprehensive review critically examines groundwater contamination in Punjab’s Bathinda district, a region heavily dependent on this essential resource for domestic, agricultural, and industrial purposes. The review highlights the widespread presence of contaminants such as fluoride, uranium, arsenic, nitrate, and various heavy metals that frequently exceed international and national safety limits. It explores the complex hydrogeochemical processes—both geogenic, including mineral dissolution, and anthropogenic, such as intensive agriculture, industrial discharge, and improper waste disposal—that collectively control groundwater chemistry. The discussion further emphasizes the serious health implications of prolonged exposure to these contaminants, including fluorosis, skeletal and renal disorders, neurological impairment, and carcinogenic outcomes, alongside the degradation of soil fertility and crop productivity. The review synthesizes findings from previous studies on contamination assessment methods, technological and agricultural mitigation strategies, and policy interventions, proposing a roadmap for sustainable groundwater governance in Bathinda to ensure environmental and public health resilience.